Why visit Sanford
Townapedia lists 21 museums and landmarks, 72 parks and trails, 141 places to eat, 10 places to stay and 5 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Lake Monroe Bridge, Osteen Bridge, Lake Mary Chamber of Commerce Building and Old Fernald-Laughton Memorial Hospital.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 93°F; January lows average 50°F.
Weather in Sanford
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Sanford
Sanford is a city in and the county seat of Seminole County, Florida, United States. It is located in Central Florida and its population was 61,051 as of the 2020 census. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From the Wikipedia article Sanford, Florida (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photos of Sanford
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Things to do5
Lake Monroe Bridge
Bridge · 4.6 mi
Bridge in United States of America
Osteen Bridge
Bridge · 4.2 mi
Bridge in Florida, United States of America
St. Johns River Veterans Memorial Bridge
Bridge · 4.4 mi
Bridge in United States of America
Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Zoo and aquarium · 3.7 mi
3755 W Seminole Blvd, Sanford
Museums and landmarks21
Lake Mary Chamber of Commerce Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Building in Florida, United States
Old Fernald-Laughton Memorial Hospital
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
Former hospital in Florida, United States
Sanford Commercial District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Historic district in Florida, United States
Sanford Residential Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Historic district in Florida, United States
Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Theatre in Sanford, Florida
Hopper Academy
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Sanford Grammar School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Seminole County Home
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Lochwood Academy for the Performing Arts
Museum · 2.0 mi
Lochwood Academy opened its doors for the summer session in 2011, launching what has become a highly-respected and excellent tradition...
109 W Commercial Street, Sanford
Performing Arts Center Annex
Museum · 1.9 mi
Box Office at the Wayne Dench Performing Arts Center.
203 Magnolia Avenue, Sanford
Ritz Theater & Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center
Museum · 1.9 mi
Latest incarnation of a historic, intimate 1923 theater now hosting plays, concerts, dance & events.
201 Magnolia Avenue, Sanford
Theater West End
Museum · 1.9 mi
Theater West End is a creative community, celebrating inclusive storytelling and cultivating artistic growth in a unique and historic...
115 W 1st Street, Sanford
9 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds72
Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Park · 3.9 mi
Non-profit organization in the USA
Gemini Springs Park
Park · 6.0 mi
Park in Florida, United States of America
Green Springs Park
Park · 5.7 mi
Park and artesian spring in Enterprise, Florida
Fort Mellon Park
Park · 2.1 mi
Lakefront park offering fitness trails, public restrooms, BBQ grills, a playground with splash pad & tennis courts.
600 East 1st Street, Sanford
Moore Station Field
Park · 3.9 mi
A popular sportsplex for recreational activities.
2758 Cameron Avenue, Sanford
George Starke Park
Park · 1.8 mi
Dr. Starke was a practicing medical doctor who opened his practice in Sanford, Florida, on September 15, 1927. Dr. Starke became one of...
60 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes141
Hollerbach's German Restaurant
Restaurant · German · 2.0 mi
Downtown Sanford social hub serving traditional German cuisine and entertainment, with beer lodge expansion,an upstairs Biergarten,...
205 1st Street, Sanford
Su-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
Shantell's Just Until
Restaurant · Soul Food, American · 1.8 mi
Shantell’s cafe soul food featuring live jazz events and late night lounge, open til 4am Fridays and Saturday.
503 Sanford Avenue, Sanford
Mo-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr 11:00-24:00; Sa 10:00-24:00; Su 10:00-20:00
West End Trading Company
Bar and pub · American · 1.9 mi
Local live-music, DJ and attached concert venue with a lively vibe, pub food & a full bar including buckets of booze. The West End...
202 Sanford Avenue, Sanford
Mo-Su 11:00-02:00
5th Element
Restaurant · Indian · 3.7 mi
1133 Rinehart Road, Sanford
Mo-Fr 11:00-14:30; Sa-Su 11:00-15:00; Mo-Th 17:30-10:00; Fr-Sa 17:30-10:30
El Zocalo
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.8 mi
406 Sanford Avenue, Sanford
Mo 11:00-21:00; Tu 11:00-22:00; We 11:00-21:00; Th 11:00-22:00;...
IHOP
Restaurant · Breakfast, Pancake · 1.2 mi
3150 South Orlando Drive, Sanford
Mo-Th,Su 06:00-23:00; Fr,Sa 06:00-24:00
IHOP
Restaurant · Breakfast, Pancake · 4.1 mi
111 South Oregon Ave, Sanford
Mo-Th 06:00-23:00; Fr 06:00-24:00; Sa 00:00-24:00; Su 00:00-23:00
Loggerhead Distillery
Brewery and winery · 1.9 mi
As two engineers, we found we had a fascination with the art and science of distillation, so when we had a dream of starting a local...
124 W 2nd Street, Sanford
We-Su 14:00-18:00
Mellow Mushroom
Restaurant · Pizza · 3.7 mi
1831 Rinehart Road, Sanford
Mo-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 11:00-21:00
129 more on the map.
History
The Mayaca or Jororo Indians inhabited the shores of Lake Monroe at the time of European contact. By 1760, war and disease had decimated the tribe, which would be replaced by the Seminole. Florida was acquired by the United States from Spain in 1821, but the Seminole Wars would delay settlement.
In 1835, during the Second Seminole War the port of Palatka on the St. Johns River, then the major artery into Central Florida from the East Coast, was burned. Consequently, a U.S. Army garrison was established upstream, on the southern side of Lake Monroe near a trading post. Established as Camp Monroe in 1836, the site was enclosed by log breastwork on three sides but open to the river, with approximately 300 men based there. The camp was attacked by allied Seminoles on February 8, 1837. It would be strengthened and renamed Fort Mellon in honor of Captain Charles Mellon, the sole American casualty of the attack. During the war, General Zachary Taylor had a road built connecting a string of military defenses from Lake Monroe to Fort Brooke (now Tampa).
The town of Mellonville was founded around Fort Mellon in 1842 by Daniel Stewart. In 1845, Florida became a U.S. state. That same year, Mosquito County was renamed Orange County and the county seat was moved from Enterprise to Mellonville. Orange groves were planted, with the first fruit packing plant built in 1869.
Read more of the history
In 1870, Henry Shelton Sanford bought 12,548 acres (50.78 km2) to the west of Mellonville and laid out the community of Sanford. Believing it would become a transportation hub, he called it "The Gateway City to South Florida." Sanford imported two colonies of Swedes (totaling about 150 adults) as indentured servants to labor a year for their travel expenses. The Swedes would do the back-breaking work of establishing a new town and clearing the sub-tropical wilderness in advance of creating a citrus empire, arriving by steamboat in 1871.
Incorporated in 1877 with a population of 100, Sanford absorbed Mellonville in 1883. In April of that year, President Chester A. Arthur arrived by steamer to vacation for a week at the Sanford House, a lakeside hotel built in 1875 and expanded in 1882.
Meanwhile, Sanford was becoming a hub of rail transportation. The South Florida Railroad opened a narrow-gauge route from Sanford to Orlando in 1880, and eventually built a connection to the Port of Tampa by the end of 1883. The standard-gauge Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railroad opened a route from Sanford to Jacksonville in 1886, completing a rail link across the peninsula. The Orange Belt Railway, another narrow-gauge line, was established in 1885 and reached St. Petersburg in 1888. (All three of these railroads would become part of the Plant System in the 1890s, and the narrow-gauge lines were standardized.) Easy access to transportation soon made the area the largest shipper of oranges in the world.
In 1887, the city suffered a devastating fire, followed the next year by a statewide epidemic of yellow fever. When the Great Freeze of 1894 and 1895 ruined the citrus industry, farmers diversified by growing vegetables as well. Celery was first planted in 1896, and because of this Sanford is nicknamed the "Celery City."
On December 1, 1891, merchant William Clark and registered African American voters of Goldsboro incorporated as a town just to the southwest of Sanford.
In 1878, Mrs. Henry Sanford created the first library for public use in Sanford. A room was provided with a few books and a paid librarian. The initial library failed. In 1889, Mrs. Thrasher and Mrs. A.M. Deforest attempted to revive the library project with the aid of the Wednesday Club, the president, Mrs. Brown encouraged the women to begin fundraising efforts. The effort's fundraising progress was slow and sporadic. A Subscription library was established in a storefront on First Street. Mrs. Duver was the librarian at this location. The library later moved to Magnolia Avenue next to the theatre at this location the library was run by volunteers. The library grew at this location, until it moved in 1914 to the Women's Club on Oak Avenue. An official Public Library was built and opened in 1924 on 5th Street. This library was supported by the City of Sanford.
In 1911, the community of Sanford Heights seceded from Sanford, because of discord over municipal services provided by Sanford. This added to concerns that Sanford's ability to expand would be constrained by the surrounding towns of Goldsboro, Georgetown and Sanford Heights, as well as Lake Monroe to the west. Florida State Representative and former Sanford mayor Forrest Lake led legislative efforts to curtail Sanford Heights' ability to incorporate as an independent entity. Goldsboro was also a target in Forrest Lake's annexation process, prompting Goldsboro's leaders to start a letter writing campaign to local newspapers. On April 6, 1911, the Sanford city council passed a resolution to annex Goldsboro and on April 26, 1911, the Florida legislature passed the Sanford Charter Bill, dissolving the incorporation of both Sanford and Goldsboro, and reorganizing Sanford as a city that included Goldsboro within its boundaries.
In 1913, Sanford became the county seat of Seminole County, created from Orange County. Agriculture continued to dominate the economy until 1940, when it proved cheaper to cultivate produce in frost-free South Florida.
From the History section of Sanford, Florida on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More about Sanford
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.5 square miles (68.63 km2), 22.96 square miles (59.47 km2) of which is land and 3.54 square miles (9.17 km2) of which is water. Sanford is bordered by Lake Mary to the southwest and to the north by Lake Monroe and DeBary.
Like the rest of Central Florida, Sanford experiences a warm humid subtropical climate with dry warm winters and wet hot summers. The dry season lasts from October to May, while the wet season is from June to September.
From the Wikipedia article Sanford, Florida, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable people from Sanford
Jim CourierAmerican tennis playerPhoto: Wknight94, CC BY-SA 3.0
NaomiAmerican professional wrestlerPhoto: Sleeper11, CC BY-SA 4.0
David EcksteinAmerican baseball playerPhoto: Djh57, CC BY 3.0
Gabriel DavisAmerican football playerPhoto: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0
Nick FranklinAmerican baseball playerPhoto: Keith Allison on Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Ray-Ray ArmstrongAmerican football playerPhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0- Tammy ClelandAmerican synchronized swimmer
- Glenn HaganAmerican basketball player
- Marie KnightAmerican gospel and R&B singer
- Bobby LordAmerican country musician (1934–2008)
- Alwyn CasheUnited States Army soldier
- Charlie CarlsonAmerican actor, writer and producer (1943-2015)
Born in Sanford, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.
Where to stay10
Higgins House Bed and Breakfast
Motel and hotel · 1.7 mi
420 South Oak Avenue, Sanford
Churches and places of worship43
All Saints Episcopal Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 5.9 mi
St. James A. M. E. Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
Spring Meadows Seventh-day Adventist Church
Church · Seventh Day Adventist · 3.0 mi
5783 Ronald Reagan Boulevard, sanford
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Mormon · 0.7 mi
2315 South Park Avenue, Sanford
Shopping38
Gas and EV charging25
Schools, colleges and libraries51
Choices In Learning Charter
School · 5.4 mi
1100 East State Road 434, Winter Springs
Healthcare10
Map of Sanford
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 71°F | 50°F | 2.4 in |
| Feb | 74°F | 52°F | 2.2 in |
| Mar | 78°F | 56°F | 2.9 in |
| Apr | 83°F | 61°F | 2.4 in |
| May | 88°F | 67°F | 3.3 in |
| Jun | 91°F | 73°F | 8.2 in |
| Jul | 93°F | 74°F | 7.3 in |
| Aug | 92°F | 75°F | 6.8 in |
| Sep | 90°F | 73°F | 6.2 in |
| Oct | 85°F | 66°F | 3.9 in |
| Nov | 78°F | 58°F | 1.9 in |
| Dec | 73°F | 53°F | 2.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Orlando Sanford Ap (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Seminole County has had 29 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2024-10-11: Hurricane Milton (Hurricane)
- 2024-10-07: Hurricane Milton (Hurricane)
- 2024-08-10: Hurricane Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-03: Tropical Storm Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2023-08-31: Hurricane Idalia (Hurricane)
- 2023-08-28: Tropical Storm Idalia (Tropical Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 miles away.
- Midway 3 mi east, about 4 min by car
- Lake Mary 3 mi southwest, about 5 min by car
- Winter Springs 6 mi south, about 10 min by car
- Heathrow 6 mi west, about 9 min by car
- DeBary 7 mi northwest, about 12 min by car
- Longwood 7 mi southwest, about 12 min by car
- Black Hammock 8 mi southeast, about 12 min by car
- Deltona 9 mi northeast, about 15 min by car
- Casselberry 9 mi south, about 14 min by car
- Oviedo 10 mi southeast, about 16 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Towns near Sanford
Towns like Sanford
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Keep exploring
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Sanford FL HD WC02, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sanford, FL - panoramio (1), Gabriel Vanslette, CC BY 3.0
- Amtrak 34122 at Sanford, WillMcC, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Amtrak 34122 at Sanford 2, WillMcC, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sanford Airport Police FL USA - Ford Excursion (1795929952), dave conner from Inverness, Scotland, CC BY 2.0
- Sanford Airport Police FL USA - Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, dave conner from Inverness, Scotland, CC BY 2.0
- Sanford, Florida Amtrak station - panoramio, subagon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- AMTK 37004 Superliner at Sanford, WillMcC, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sanford station interior, WillMcC, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cars boarding Amtrak Auto Train in Sanford, WillMcC, CC BY-SA 4.0
- SFB ORLANDO SANFORD INT FROM N832MH FLIGHT MCO-ATL (7263614616), Eric Salard, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Sanford, FL - panoramio, Gabriel Vanslette, CC BY 3.0
- Sanford Florida Banner, Gabriel Vanslette, CC BY 3.0
- Lake Monroe - Sanford, FL - panoramio, Gabriel Vanslette, CC BY 3.0
- Sanford International airport control tower - panoramio, James Roberts (Jampp…, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sanford Sunrail Station, Zrowny, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ritz Theater in Sanford1, Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
- Sanford Commercial Dist1, Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
- Lake Mary Chamber of Commerce1, Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
- All Saint's Episcopal Church in Enterprise1, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sanford Residential Hist Dist - house1, Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
- Old Fernald-Laughton Memorial Hospital1, Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
- St James AME Church in Sanford2, Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
- Cloud from United airliner (Orlando - NYC) May 2023, Benoît Prieur, CC0
- HOPPPER, Hopper Academy, Public domain
- Orlandos highways, Rafay, CC BY-SA 4.0
- ISS023-E-18701 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS051-E-38718 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-282605 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- Auto Train Superliner entry, WillMcC, CC BY-SA 4.0
- USCBP USA - Mercury Sable, dave conner from Inverness, Scotland, CC BY 2.0
- USCBP USA - Ford Freestar, dave conner from Inverness, Scotland, CC BY 2.0
- Amtrak Autoracks loading in Florida, WillMcC, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Seminole County Fire Department (14767557425), PoolSafely, CC BY 2.0
- Seminole County Fire Department (14580921069), PoolSafely, CC BY 2.0
- Seminole County World War I monument, Elizabethklements, CC BY-SA 4.0
- DRONEview of paddleship, Alexander Escorcia, CC0
- Rynchops niger (Black Skimmer) 40, gary_leavens, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Bald Eagle) 77, gary_leavens, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Bald Eagle) 78, gary_leavens, CC BY-SA 2.0
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